about creative
community space
Nurturing creativity, building connections
threads of change
inspiring creativity, building skills,
and reducing the environmental footprint
Fostering
Creativity
Promoting Sustainability
Building
Community Bonds
Preserving
Craftsmanship
Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive community that values creativity, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Through workshops and our unique Resource Recovery Centre, we aim to equip individuals with valuable life skills while promoting the circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
get to know our team
crafting connections at creative community space
Katrina Naish
Founder and Director
Visionary Creative
Katrina Naish, the imaginative force behind Creative Community Space, serves as Founder and Director, infusing over twenty years of fashion and textile expertise into our vibrant community. With a background spanning design and production, Katrina’s dedication to sustainability led to the inception of our journey into eco-conscious fashion. As the guiding influence for our inspired team, she ardently champions the untapped potential within textile waste, driving forward eco-friendly practices to redefine the industry’s narrative.
Jodie Stephens
Workshop Facilitator
Print Artist
Jodie Stephens, our Workshop Facilitator and Print Artist, brings a wealth of knowledge as an eco-conscious textile designer and RMIT University instructor. The creative mind behind Amity Gem, a slow fashion label, Jodie seamlessly integrates her expertise in sustainable fashion and nature-inspired designs into our workshops. With a commitment to fostering a passion for eco-friendly creativity, Jodie plays a vital role in enriching the Creative Community Space experience.
Simone Kottman
Workshop Facilitator
Texture Artist
Simone Kottman, our Workshop Facilitator and Texture Artist, brings a diverse and multi-talented background to Creative Community Space. With a foundation in fashion design, experience running a home-based fabric toy business, and a history in aged care and disability services, Simone infuses a unique perspective into her role. Currently dedicated to art and workshops, she passionately shares her love for creativity with others, contributing to the rich tapestry of skills and experiences within our community space.
Fiona Sievers
Workshop Facilitator
Fibre Finesser
Fiona Sievers, our Workshop Facilitator and Fibre Finesser, brings a wealth of crafting expertise and a passion for upcycling to Creative Community Space. Affectionately known as Fee, Fiona acquired diverse crafting skills from her grandmothers and excelled in the art of upcycling. Firmly believing in the boundless potential of crafting, she advocates for resourcefulness, sustainability, and skill revival. Fiona’s journey seamlessly blends traditional preservation with a keen environmental awareness, enriching our workshops and fostering a deep appreciation
for craftsmanship within
our community.
why textile waste and sustainability
matter to us
Textile waste is a pressing global issue, with millions of tons of clothing and fabric ending up in landfills each year. This wasteful cycle not only harms the environment but also depletes valuable resources and contributes to various social and economic challenges.
At Creative Community Space, we believe in the power of creativity to address these challenges. By repurposing, upcycling, and finding new uses for textiles, we can reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote a more sustainable way of living.
sustainability isn’t just
a buzzword
resource recover centre
Central to our mission is our Resource Recovery Centre, where we collect, sort, and repurpose textile waste. Through innovative techniques and creative solutions, we give new life to discarded materials and demonstrate the potential for positive change within our community.
At Creative Community Space, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a way of life. We’re committed to inspiring and empowering individuals to make a difference, one stitch at a time.
At Creative Community Space be part of a vibrant community dedicated to creativity, sustainability, and positive change.
the birth of
creative community space
Creative Community Space was founded by Katrina Naish with a vision to create a vibrant hub where creativity, sustainability, and community could come together to learn, create, and make a positive impact on the world around them.
Early 2023, Katrina embarked on a journey to bring this vision to life. However, finding an affordable space that could accommodate both a resource recovery center and a workshop environment, while also being accessible and welcoming to the community, proved to be a challenge on a tight budget.
Undeterred, Katrina remained determined that the right space would emerge with persistence and perseverance. After tirelessly searching and networking, a breakthrough came at the end of 2023 when she connected with Melbourne Polytechnic. Not only did Melbourne Polytechnic share in the vision for the space, but they also embraced the opportunity to collaborate and support the community’s educational needs.
As Katrina and Melbourne Polytechnic, along with their dedicated teams, work diligently to bring Creative Community Space to fruition, we are excited to embark on this journey and share it with you. Together, we look forward to creating a space where creativity flourishes, sustainability thrives, and community bonds are strengthened.
Join us at Creative Community Space and be part of a movement dedicated
to positive change and collective growth.
craft with purpose
at our
creative community space
Where your creativity flourishes and your journey into sustainable textile practices begins. Discover the joy of crafting with purpose
create with us, today